Torque imparting wrench



March 30, 1965 D. c. COLEMAN 3,175,436

TORQUE IMPARTING WRENCH Filed Aug. 20, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet l {ya/wayw- March 30, 1965 Filed Aug. 20, 1963 D. C. COLEMAN TORQUE IMPARTING WRENCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 r I NVEN TOR.

United States Patent 3,175,436 TORQUE IMPARTING WRENCH Donald C. Coleman, 6440 Valley View Road,

Oakland, Calif. Filed Aug. 20, 1963, Ser. No. 303,276 Claims. (Cl. 81-177) My invention relates to wrenches and devices of a similar nature where the use thereof is complicated by limited working space. The invention contemplates a wrench whereby the movement for its operation is considerably reduced compared to like wrenches or devices. With known wrenches and devices the movement for operation extends to a radius equal to the length of the wrench handle. In the majority of cases the length of the wrench handle is necessary for leverage, but only in the initial loosening or the final tightening of nuts or bolts. The presented invention will minimize the extend of radial travel by using a handle to activate a smaller lever until such time when additional leverage is necessary for completing the operation.

The wrench in the closed position will furnish the proper leverage for initial breaking or tightening of nuts or bolts, the open position will furnish the most rapid means for completing the tightening or loosening procedure.

Though this invention will be particularly useful in confined spaces, it would not be limited to this alone.

The object-s of the invention are to provide an improved wrench device where radial movement is at a minimum for working in confined spaces; to provide the least amount of radial movement of the operators hand and at the same time extend the potential radial travel of the shorter lever arm to three times that of present wrench devices; to provide a wrench with a combination of possible operational positions for movement that can be utilized to accomplish work without limitations dictated by present wrenches and devices; and to extend to capabilities of this invention to other uses that would be obvious to those familiar with such a device.

These and other aspects of the invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the wrench in the open position with the handle at a slight angle to indicate pivotal potential;

FIG. 2 is a rotated sectional view taken on the line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevation of the wrench with the handle shortened for convenience and drawn in phantom view;

FIG. 4 is a detailed plan view with members shortened showing the closed position of operation;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a lever with open end means;

FIG. 6 is a side view of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a lever with ratchet means;

FIG. 8 is a side view of FIG. 7.

My wrench includes an offset lever 1 provided with a box end means in one end thereof. The offset lever 1 is pivotally and slidably secured at the opposite end to a handle 3 by means of a shouldered threaded pivot pin 2 placed through an extended slot 8 in the offset lever 1 and screwed into said handle 3. This will allow a fore and aft sliding movement as well as a radial movement about the pivot pin 2. The offset lever 1 is provided with a rectangular protrusion 6 which will be seated into a similarly shaped recess 7 in the handle 3 when in the closed position. At the pivotally secured end of the offset lever 1 a radially grooved indent 9 is provided on the surface engaged with the handle to accommodate deice tent means 4 and 5 in the handle 3 to releasably secure the offset lever 1 with the handle 3 when the wrench is in the closed or open position.

When in operation for tightening a not the offset lever 1 will be in the open position FIG. 1, and said offset lever will be engaged at the box end. The aforementioned offset lever -1 will assume a position wherein the end secured to the handle is to the right of the nut. From this position pulling force on the handle 3 will pivot the offset lever 1 about a vertical axis passing through the center of the nut and radially moving the offset lever 1 in a clockwise direction perpendicular to said axis. The pulling force applied to the handle 3 will function to pivot the offset lever 1 in a clockwise direction until the longitudinal axis of the handle 3 and offset lever I assume an aligned position. At this point to continue clockwise movement of the offset lever 1 it is necessary to apply a pushing force. The offset lever 1 will reach a maximum turning radius and assume a position to the left of the engaged nut, the exact opposite position from whence it started. The offset lever 1 will have traveled approximately 300 degrees in a radius movement, imparting a turn to the nut this same degree. The handle 3 will have made only a slight radius movement at. its secured end and the opposite end in the operators hand will have made a slight fore and aft movement. Should the offset lover I abut an obstruction in its radial travel and be unable to complete 300 degrees movement the wrench would simply be repositioned, or when a ratchet is in use (FIGS. 7 and 8) ratcheted back, to again effect as much motion as space will allow.

In either of the above situations, i.e., when the offset lever 1 is free to pivot 300 degrees or limited in its pivotal movement, continued operation will result in necessitating a final tightening procedure. Upon reaching this point the handle 3 is longitudinally aligned with offset lever 1 and pushed forward. Guided by the shouldered pivot pin 2 within the confines of the extended slot 8 in the offset lever 1 the rectangular protrusion 6 will seat within recess 7 as shown in FIG. 4. Offset lever 1 and handle 3 now act as one lever to give the proper leverage for tightening.

While I have described the illustrative embodiment of my invention in some particularity, obviously many variations and modifications thereof may easily be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Any suitable device for receiving or engaging nut or bolt heads may be detachably or otherwise associated with the lever member 1, and said lever member 1 may take any shape or form to best carry out the proper function thereof. Particular reference will be made to FIGS. 5 and 6 where the lever 10 is not offset, and contains an elongated slot 12 and a rectangular protrusion 11; and FIGS. 7 and 8 where lever 13 with elongated slot 15 and rectangular protrusion 14 is fitted with a ratchet device.

It is to be understood that the elements of the levers 10 and 13 corresponding to those of the offset lever 1 cooperate with the handle 3 in the manner previously described with respect to the offset lever 1.

In view of the many possible innovations for the construction of the lever member 1 therefore do not limit myself to the precise construction shown and described, but claim as my invention all embodiments thereof falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

l. A torque imparting wrench, comprising (a) a lever having means on one end thereof to fixedly engage an element to which it is desired to impart torque,

(b) a handle pivotally and slidably secured to the other end of said lever and,

(0) means cooperating between said handle and lever to selectively rigidly interconnect said handle and lever together for swinging movement; and wherein,

(0!) said means rigidly interconnects said handle and lever responsive to rectilinear movement the-rebetween.

2. A wrench according to claim 1 wherein the means cooperating between the handle and lever comprises:

(a) a recess formed in the handle; and,

(b) a protrusion formed on the lever and adapted to be selectively seated in the recess of the handle upon said rectilinear movement.

3. A wrench according to claim 2 wherein the protrusion of the lever is seated in the recess of the handle by sliding said handle and lever towards each other.

4. A torque imparting wrench comprising:

(a) a lever having means on one end thereof to fixedly engage an element to which it is desired to impart torque,

(b) a handle pivotally and slidably secured to the other end of said lever,

(0) means cooperating between said handle and lever to selectively limit pivotal movement there/between, comprising:

(1) a recess formed on the handle;

(2) a protrusion formed on the lever and adapted to be selectively seated in the recess of the han dle at one extremity of slidable movement between sa'id lever and handle; and

(d) detent means to releasably secure said handle and lever at said extremity.

5. A wrench according to claim 4 including additional detent means to releasably secure said lever and handle at a position of slidable movement wherein they are free to pivot with respect to each other.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 210,6 69 12/78 Coates. 324,104 8/85 Goodson. 583,901 6/97 House. 918,505 4/09 Burnett 8l177 1,424,045 7/22 Sprague.

FOREIGN PATENTS 840,339 1/39 France.

WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner. 

4. A TORQUE IMPARTING WRENCH COMPRISING: (A) A LEVER HAVING MEANS ON ONE END THEREOF TO FIXEDLY ENGAGE AN ELEMENT TO WHICH IT IS DESIRED TO IMPART TORQUE, (B) A HANDLE PIVOTALLY AND SLIDABLY SECURED TO THE OTHER END OF SAID LEVER, (C) MEANS COOPERATING BETWEEN SAID HANDLE AND LEVER TO SELECTIVELY LIMIT PIVOTAL MOVEMENT THEREBETWEEN, COMPRISING: (1) A RECESS FORMED ON THE HANDLE; (2) A PROTRUSION FORMED ON THE LEVER AND ADAPTED TO BE SELECTIVELY SEATED IN THE RECESS OF THE HANDLE AT ONE EXTREMITY OF SLIDABLE MOVEMENT BETWEEN SAID LEVER AND HANDLE; AND (D) DETENT MEANS TO RELEASABLY SECURE AND HANDLE AND LEVER AT SAID EXTREMITY. 